Adjustable cropping angle device



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5 l lvl ADJUSTABLE CROPPING ANGLE DEVICE @f .iQ/g1 7 4- l I 1 l l I 1| l judy i?? WSE Filed May e, 1948 INVENTOR, fm/l/J. End* w YM l A oRNff/J judy E??? E. J, EN@ gg ADJUSTABLE CROPPI'NG ANGLE DEVICE Filed May/6, 1948 2 SheeS-Se 2 Em// .l fm? EMM, @u MM! I A Arrow/5m Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED Sii TES P TENT FFICE Emil J. Ens, Newark, N. J., assignor to Magnus Research, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 6, 1948, Serial No. 25,367

This invention relates to improvements in photographic accessories and more particularly to adjustable cropping angles for determining a rectangular area of a photograph having dimensions of proper proportions 'for enlargement to a predetermined size.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent and best understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a set of adjustable cropping angles embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, but on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fing. 4 is a plan view of a Aportion of a modified form of a set of adjustable cropping angles embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a section View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of another modified form of a set of adjustable cropping angles embodying the invention;

Fig. 7 is a section view taken along the line l1-.1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a section View taken along the line The adjustable cropping angles embodying the present invention permit the user to select a rectangular area in a photograph that has dimensions of the same proportions as the dimensions of a rectangle of a given size to which the selected area, is to be enlarged. The use of such adjustable cropping angles enables the user to readily select any desired area or part of the photograph having dimensions that are of the proper prou portions Without the necessity of computing the proportions for the dimensions of the selected area or part of the photograph, thus saving time and also permitting the selection of the most appropriate portion of the photograph for the enlargement desired.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is a pair or angle members I formerly right angles that are placed in opposed relation to each other s o as to, dene or frame a rectangle with a member or strut Il extending diagonally across said rectangle. The angle members I0 may be made in an inexpensive manner by placing strips lila and Il Ib of appropriate lengths of a suitable sheet material with the ends of the strips overlapping so. that the intersection of the inner edges ofthe stripsv Illa and [0b defines a right angle. Strips 1 I-Da; and I-,Ilb are then secured in this position bv- Claims. (Cl. 33e-.98)

2. suitable fastening means such as rivets or pins I2.

The diagonal member II is slidably mounted in pivoted members I3. The pivoted members I3 arel pivotally mounted on brackets Id that are secured to the right angle members Iii by rivets I5. Thus, the angle members Il) may be moved toward or away from each other along the diago nal member II to define rectangular areas of various sizes. The brackets Ill are positioned so that the pivot point of the pivoted members I3 is located directly above the intersection of the edges of the strips Illa and Ib deiining the respective right angles or in other words at the corner of the right angles.

The pivoted members I3 consist of a stud I5 that extends through an opening in the bracket I4 with a headed portion I6 of the stud I6 bearing against the underside of the bracket I4. A sleeve Il surrounds a portion or the stud IIB that extends above the bracket I4 and the sleeve I1 rests on the upper surface of the bracket I4 in opposed relation to the headed portion IB of the stud IB. ,A clamping nut- It threadably engages with a portion of the stud I6 extending above the sleeve It and the nut I8 bears against the sleeve I1 when tightened. Thus, when the nut I8 is tightened, it clamps the bracket I4' between headed portion I6 of the stand I6 and the sleeve Il thereby holding the pivoteol member I3 against angular movement relative to the bracket I4.

As shown best in Fig. 2, the stu-d I6 and the sleeve Il have transverse openings I9 and 2t, respectively, that are aligned to receive the diagon nal member II with a sliding nt. The openings I9 in the sleeve Il may be slightly larger than the opening 2@v in the stud it to prevent binding as a result of movement of the sleeve Il relative to the stud ItV as the nut le is tightened. A spring member Z-I with spring iingers 2l. that bear a iiattened surface on the upper side of the diagonal member II is secured beneath the clamping nut I8. The frictional engagement of the. spring ngers. 2i with diagonal member II serves to hold the ang-le members I0 at the position toA which they have been set on the diagonal member II.v Headed portions 2:2 may be provided at the ends of diagonal member Ii. The headed portions 224 are engaged by the spring lingers 2 I' to prevent the diagonalV member I I from being drawn out of the pivoted members I3.

When the clamping nuts I8 are loosened, the opposed angle members Ij0 may be moved Telaq tive to each other to a position where they dene a rectangle having the desired dimensions or dimensions proportional thereto. In order to position the angle members IIJ at a desired size, the strips Illa and Ib may have scales printed on their faces or appropriate settings for frequently used dimensions may be indicated thereon or both scales and frequently used dimensions may be indicated.

To set the angle members I for a rectangle of a given size, the clamping nuts I8 are loosened and the angle members I0 are moved along the diagonal member l I and are also moved angularly until the appropriate markings on the strips Ia are brought into coincidence with the appropriate markings on the strips Ib. For example, in setting the angle members IIJ for a 4 x 6 rectangle, the members I0 are moved to a position where the 6 inch markings on the strips Illa coincide with the 4 inch markings on the strips |015. During such setting of the angle members I0 the pivoted members I3 permit such angular movement of the diagonal member I I as required and the diagonal member II automatically assumes the proper angular position between the diagonally opposed corners of the rectangle for which the angle members Il) are set.

After angle members I0 have been positioned in the manner `iust described, the clamping nuts I8 are tightened to hold the diagonal member I I and angle members IE!I against angular movement relative to each other. Thereafter, the angle members I0 may be moved toward or away from each other as desired and the dimensions of the rectangle they dene will have the same proportion as the dimensions of the rectangle for which the angle members Ill have been set.

This permits the angle members I0 to be moved so as to frame any desired portion of a photograph or negative with the assurance that the portion so framed may be enlarged to the exact size of the desired enlargement.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 8, the parts that are similar to those previously described have been identified by like reference characters and such parts need not be described in detail here. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, a pointer'23 is secured to the diagonal member II by means of the pivoted member I3 and so that the pointer 23 moves with the diagonal member II to indicate its angular position with reference to the rectangle. The pointer 23 registers with a series of markings on a rearwardly extending portion 24 of a bracket I4. The rearwardly extending portion 24 of the bracket I4' is provided with markings in degrees or other suitable identication numerals so that by appropriate calibration of such markings, the pointer 23 may be set so that the diagonal member II will be at the proper angular position in respect to the angle members I0 for the desired proportions of the sides of the rectangle dened by the angle members I0.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, the diagonal member II is slidably supported in a U-shaped bracket 25. The base of the U-shaped bracket 25 is supported on the angle member IU and is secured thereto'by a stud 26 that Vextends through the angleV member III and an arcuate slot 21 in the base of the bracket 25. A clamping nut 28 threadably engages the stud 26 to hold the bracket 25 in the position to vwhich it is set. A finger 29 extends from the base of the-bracket 25 to the intersection of the strips 2i I0a and Ib forming the right angle. The end of the nger 29 is bent downwardly to engage with the intersection of the sides of the strips Ina and IIJb and serves as the pivot point about which the bracket 25 may be moved angularly with respect to the angle member I0.

The diagonal member I I extends through openings in the upstanding legs of the U-shaped bracket 25 and a portion 30 of one of the legs is bent over into frictional engagement with the top of the diagonal member II so as to prevent unintentional movement of the angle members I0 along the diagonal member I I. The diagonal member I I is positioned above the pivoting finger 29 at the corner of the right angle formed by the intersection of the strips IUa and Ib so that the diagonal member bisects the right angle.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications in the illustrated embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a set of adjustable cropping angles for determining rectangular areas having dimensions of the same proportions as the dimensions of a rectangle of a given size, the combination including a pair of angle members with each of said members forming a right angle, said angle members being positioned in opposed relation to each other to define a rectangle, brackets carried by each of said angle members, pivoted members carried by said bracket, said pivoted members being pivoted at diagonally opposed corners of the rectangle formed by the angle ymembers and including a stud extending through the bracket, said stud having a headed portion engaging with the bracket, a sleeve surrounding a portion-of said stud and engaging with the bracket in opposed relation to said headed portion and a clamping nut threadably engaging with said stud and bearing against said sleeve, said sleeve and said stud having alignable transverse openings and a strut extending through said opening-s and diagonally across the rectangle formed by the angle members, said strut being slidable relative to the pivoted members 2. In a set of adjustable croppingangles, the combination as defined in claim l which includes a resilient member secured beneathv the clamping nut and bearing against the strut, said resilient member frictionally holding the strut against movement relative to the stud.

3. A set of adjustable -cropping angles for dening rectangular areas having dimensions in the same proportion as the dimensions of a given rectangular area comprising a pair of angle members, each of said angle members being formed from iiat strips of sheet material and defining right angles, said angle members being positioned in opposing relation to each other and dening a rectangle with the right angles formed by the respective angle members being located at diagonally opposed corners of said rectangle, a strut extending diagonally across the corners of the rectangle formed by the right angles of the opposing angle members, and Vmeans for pivotally securing said strut `to said angle members, said means including a bracket secured to one of the angle members, a stud carried by said bracket, said stud being pivoted directly over the inner vertex of the right angle formed by the said angle member and having a transverse opening therein for slidably'receiving the strut and clamping means engaging Lwith the 5 bracket and the stud and securing the stud against pivotal movement relative to the bracket and the said angle member.

4. A set of adjustable cropping angles as defined in claim 3 which includes a scale having angular divisions secured to the bracket and an indicator registering with said scale secured to said pivoted stud and movable therewith.

5. A set of adjustable cropping angles for defining rectangular areas having dimensions in the same proportion as the dimensions of a given rectangular area comprising a pair of angle members, each of said angle members being formed from at strips of sheet material dening right angles, said angle members being positioned in opposing relation to each other and dening a rectangle With the right angles formed by the respective angle members being located at a diagonally opposed corners of said rectangle, a strut extending diagonally across the rectangle between the right angles formed by the opposing angle members, a bracket secured to at least one of the angle members, a stud pivotally carried by said bracket, said stud having a portion extending through said bracket Cil and being pivoted directly above the inner vertex of the right angle formed by said angle member, a sleeve surrounding a portion of the stud extending through the bracket, said sleeve and the stud having alignable openings therein through which the diagonal strut extends With slida-ble fit and means for clamping the sleeve and the stud in a Xed position on the bracket.

EMIL J. ENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 456,105 Adams July 14, 1891 636,098 Arnot Oct. 3l, 1899 760,297 Basola May 17, 1904 1,183,977 Hoee May 23, 1916 1,461,392 Ingstead July 10, 1923 1,661,151 Little Feb. 28, 1928 1,662,066 Krumm Mar. 13, 1928 2,054,503 Jambura Sept. 15, 1936 2,124,659 Tyrrell July 26, 1938 

